21082: Esser: Medicine students at the University of Peace seeking answers from government (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser: torx@joimail.com

Agence Haītienne de Presse

March 31, 2004

The 247 scholarship students studying medicine at the university of
Of Peace of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy are seeking
explanations from the government of Latortue regarding the occupation
of the university campus by international forces.

Port-au-Prince, March 31, 2004 -(AHP)- The 247 scholarship students
enrolled as medical students at the University of Peace of the
Aristide Foundation for Democracy (FAD) continue to call on the
Latortue government to explain the occupation  of the university
campus by the international forces.

Concerned for their future, the students at the FAD set up a
committee tasked with carrying out actions designed to bring about a
resumption of classes.

In an interview with AHP, two of the students, Pierre Jumeau and
Auguste Bertin, indicated that they have written to the Minister for
National Education, Pierre Buteau, to ask him to take a position on
the question.

"More than a week after (the letter was written), we have not
received any response from Mr. Buteau", said the students, who say
they have also had no contact with their dean, Doctor Yves Polynice.
Classes should have resumed on March 8.

Auguste Bertin and Pierre Jumeau declared they did not understand the
lax attitude of the authorities in dealing with this question. They
pointed out that they have received scholarships from the Haitian
State and based on the continuity of the State there should be no
difficulties in their continuing their studies, which are part of a
six-year program.

The holders of scholarships from the Haitian State did not wish to
make any comment on the occupation of the university campus. They
made clear that all they wish is for classes to resume. They said
they are ready to continue their studies in any other space if the
authorities so decide.

Nor did they wish to make any comment on calls for the private
university of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy to be
nationalized.

Brig. Gen. Ronald Coleman, commander of the multinational interim
force in Haiti (MIF), said that the buildings inside the university
campus of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy have been placed at
the force's disposal by the Latortue government to be used as a
military base.

Other sources indicate that the campus of the university might be
liberated in two months.
.